Printing-plate-locking mechanism



April 9 H. A. w. WOOD 1,708,196

PRINTING PLATE LOCKING MECHANISM Original Filed March 1 19 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE WOOD NEWSPAPER IMACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

PRINTING-PLATE-LOCKING MECHANISM.

Application filed March 17, 1926, Serial No. 95,333. Renewed September 4, 1928.

This invention relates to a. quick lock-up mechanism for the plates of printing cylinders.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an instantaneously actlngplatc locking and unlocking device which Wlll eltectively lock the plates on the cylinders; to providemeans whereby the locking and unlocking: means is operated by the poweuofi the press, and, specifically, by the rotation of the plate cylinder itself; to provide means for preventing the ope ation ot the unlocking device accidentally; to provide connections between the various plate locking ueviccs of a press whereby the plates on the various cylinders will be automancally locked or unlocked simultaneously and by the use of a single con ;=l, and also to provide electrical or mechanical means whereby when the means for unlockiim the plates is in operative condition it will be impossible to drive the press at any other than threading-in speed. I

In the use of the device the various plate clamps are left open in order that theplatcs may be removed and new ones applied. so that up to the last instant the plates may be shifted or replaced without additional labor, and then by the mere starting; of the press all the clamps are simultaneously closed by the rotation of the cylinders themselves. In this way much time is saved in getting ready to start the press and the number of men ne essary to start it is reduced. I

Other objects and advantages of the mvention will appea hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyiug drawings. in which his. 1 is a plan of a press equipped with a preferred plate locking: and unl )cl( li lf device constructed in accordance with this invenlion;

Fig". 2 is an enlarged plan view of one end of one plate cylinder showing the locking device;

Fl 3 is side view ot the same partly in central section showing cer ain electrical connections;

Fig. l is a similar fragmentary view showing the clamping ring; cam;

Fin. 5 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 3, but showing the clamping ring operating mechanism in inoperative position;

Fig. 6 is an end View indicated by the arrow 6 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a side view of a modification in which the device is simplified by the elimination of the electri all connections and the setting of the device solely by hand.

Various mechanisms have been devised for quickly locking plates on the printing cylinders of a press. as it is realized that the time spent in this operation results in some delay. Newspaper printing plants are run at the present time so that everything has to be held up until the last minute, and then it is desired to start the operation of the press without any more delays at this period than a e absolutely necessary. Heretofore all of the quick locking and releasing devices have required the manual operation of a wrench or other removable tool. This invention is designed to savi all delays due to the ('iperation ot' such a tool, and to the separate locking of the plates on the several plate cylinders of a press.

I have shown in Fig. 1 a plan of a press with several impression and plate cylinde In each case the various plates on the plate cylinder 11 are locked by a semi-circular locking ring at each end. In this view I have shown the locking devices, which will he described in detail later. as under the control of electric circuits 12 and 13 connected with each locking device all along the press through electro-nmgnets 30. Those at the two ends of the cylinders are controlled by two push-lmttons l4- and 15. The e circuits are connected to the press control in the n'ianncr indicated in Fig. l and may be 0% any ordinary electrical arra n gcmen t.

Each of the locking rings It) extends half way around the cylinde' and two of them lock all the plates at that end of the cylinder. and the tour rings on each cylinder of course lock all the plates thereon.

lo the form shown the locking' ring it) has a beveled edge 17 which engages the. heveled edge of the. plate P and holds the plate on the cylinder as is well understood. The actual force which holds the plate 's supplied by a plurality of springs 18 on guide rods extending longitudinally of the cylinder and having their heads inserted in recesses in the ring 10. so that this ring. is normally held by the springs with sutlicient. force to clamp the plates firmly in position. I employ yielding force for this purpose so that the ring can he pulled back to release the plates and so that, when the means for pulling: the plate lT ElCk is out of operative connection with the ring 10. the springs will quickly and automatically draw the ri.

The

all it niannalj. and handle are .i on a ti. 27 This is the only olieratim shown th tiorm illustrated in Fig. T. but in the her ti; res the lever o erati-d automatically inthe ordinary worl t.

()n this ""cr is a st ni 25 having: on the bottom 2 edit roller 26. This roller of a truncated conical torn; to tit the the undercut of the cam. It will he olrfion; that if the cam roller is down in th groove Qt). which uniform around the i for the ram 2t, and is located he tree to clamp the plate. J

cylinder rota es in the direction of the arrow in l 2. the cam 21 wil position shown in that tipu e, ant in doing so the ring 10 will be drzwn hack to the releasing position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The purpose of undercutting; the cam will now he obvious. The lever 23 cannot he moved to releaso the roller 26 from the cam while in contact therewith on account of this undercut and the conical shape of the roller. Therefore. normally the press will he stopped in this position and the clamps will he held open. the plates can he hanged or adjusted and then the press can he startrd up. which will result in the roller riding: oil the rain and the ring: 10 moving hack into clamping position.

If the roller 26 were lctt in the position shown in Fig. 3 the plates would he anchnnped at each revolution. hot the purpose of withdrawing the cam roller 26 from its operative position the handle 24. as stated. can he used. but I prefer to provide automatic ontrol. For that purpose the shat't Q? is provided with an arm 25% .vhich is connected with a rod 29 controlled by elcctro-tnagnet 30 which connmrted witn the line 12 or 13 as the case may be. Therefore, when the press is running. the pushhntton 14 or 15 can he operalrd to connect the circuit and all the love. 23 will be pulled down so to hringi the cam rolls 26 into the grooves 20 ot the r Thei during; that rotation of the press all the clamps on the press will he released and the press will he stopped w h the cam roller the position shown in Fig". 2.

Now if the cur 'nt is hroken by means of he moved to the the push-button there will be no magnetic energy to hold the levers 23 in operative position. A spring 31 operating on each arm 28 will be free to move the lever up to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 0n the, lever are two projections 32 which :onze into contact with stops 33 at the ends of the oscillation of the lever and restrict its motion in that vav.

In the above description the modification shown in Fig. 7 has been descrihei In this case the lever 23 is moved into operative position by the hand e 2: and when the operator lets go of that the spring Ill restores it to inoperative condition.

In this vay it wil be seen that, particularly with the electrical control. all the clamps ot the press can he withdrawn automatically during the same rotation to release the plates and the press stopped at the same time. ()n starting up. the plates will all he clamped during the same rotation and without any necessity for any attendant to be near any of them or perform zny operation ai'ljacent. thereto. Even in the handle oprratcd device the only thii nec rv is for the attendants to hold up the handles 24. They do not have to mani finlate screws or bolts or see that any adjust n'ients are iade correct; All the handles 24 have to he held up iritil each cylinder is rotated through P if a revolution. Then they let go of handles and the springs 31 render the inclainping device inoperative until the levers 23 are turned again.

It will be seen that all the clamps on one side of e: ch cylinder can he opened simnh taneously and left open so that the late:; can removed and new ones applied. The press started up at threading-in speed and the clamps remain open during" the entire printingperiod of the press or one rotation ot the plate cylinders. Up to the last instant plates can be shifted or replaced without additional labor and then with the n ere starting of the prest all clamps are simultaneously closed with one revolution of the cy inders. This saves mach time in the starting of the press and a great deal of hurrying around on the part ot the operators to get the plates locked.

Althongh I have illustrated and descrihcd only two forms of the invention 1 am aware ot the act that other modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing: from the scope of the invention as expressed in the -laiins.

'lheretore i do not Wh rl to he limited to the details of constr iction herein shown and described but what I (10 claim is:

1. The comhination with a printing plate cylinder and a plate clamp. of automatic means for m0vin said clamp into a position to lock the plate on the cylinder by the partial rotation of the cylinder.

list

2. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and a plate clamp thereon, of means actuated by the cylinder for automatically operating said clamp to lock and release the plate.

3. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and a clamp for normally locking a plurality o1 plates thereof, of automatic means for moving said clamp back into a position to release all of said plates simultaneously when the cylinder turns.

4. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and a clamp thereon for engaging the end ot a series of plates on the cylinder, of means for moving the clamp automatically into a position to clamp the plates on the cylinder by the turning of the cylinder. The combination with a printing plate cylinder ot a clamp thereon for engaging the end of a series of plates on he cylinder, means for normally holding said plate clamp in locking position, and automatic means for moving back the clamp into plate releasing position actuated by the movement of the cylinder.

6. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and two pairs of clamps thereon for engaging the plates at both ends of the cylinder. of means for normally holding said plate clamp in locking position, and automatic means operated by the cylinder for moving the clamps on one side of the cylinder simultaneously into releasing position.

7. In a printing press, the combination with a plate cylinder and means for holding a printing plate thereon, of means operated by the press for causing the plate to be released from its fixed printing position on the cylinder.

8. The combination with a printing plate cylinder of a clamp thereon for engaging the end of a series of plates on the cylinder, means for normally holding said plate clamp in locking position, and means operated by th rotation of the plate cylinder for pulling back the clamp into inoperative position.

9. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and a plate clamp for locking the plate thereon, of means actuated by the rotation of the cylinder for releasing the clamp and unlocking or releasing the plate.

.0. The combination with a printing plate cylinder, of means for locking the plates thereon, of means operated by the rotation of the cylinder tor releasing or unlocking said locking means.

11. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and plate clamp therefor, of means for moving the clamp to fix a plate on the cylinder, at a predetermined point in the rotation ot the cylinder.

12. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and a plate clamp, of automatic means for moving said clamp into a position to lock the plate on the cylinder, by the more starting of the cylinder into rotation. 13. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and a plate clamp thereon, 01 means :tor automatically operating said clamp to loclc and release the plate, and means for throwing out the clamp operating means.

14. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and a clamp arranged to lock a plate thereon, of means for moving said clamp back automatically into a position to release the plate. and means or removing the plate clamp moving means from. operative position.

13. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and a champ tor normal y locking a plurality of plates thereof, of automatic means for moving said clamp into a position to release all of said plates simultaneously, and means for disconnecting the automatic means.

16. In a printing press, the combination with a plate cylinder and means for holding a printing plate thereon, of means connected to be operated by the press for releasing the plate, and means for disconnecting the plate releasing means trom the press, to permit the press to operate without releasing the plate.

17. In a printing press, the combination with a plate cylinder and means for holding a printing plate thereon. of means operated by the press for causing the plate to be tixcd in printing position on the cylinder, and electro-magnetic means for disconnecting the plate fixing means from the power.

18. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and two pairs of clamping rings thereon for engaging the plates at both ends of the cylinder, of means for normally holding said plate clamping rings in locking position. automatic means for moving the clamping rings on one side simultanconsy in releasing position. and elcrtro-magr, ic means tor throwing the ring moving means out of action.

15). In a printing press, the combination with a plurality of printing couples, of automatic plate clamps tor the plates on the respective printing cylinders thereof, means for automatically moving the plate clamps and locking or releasing the plates. said means connected with each cylinder being movable to prevent the release of the plates while the press is operating normally. and means for replacing all of said means into engagement with their respective plate clamps, whereby on the next rotation of the several plate cylinders, all the plates will be released automatically.

20. In a printing press, the combination with a plurality of printing couples, of auto matic plate clamps for the plates on the respective printing cylinders thereof, means ltld Cir

at the ends of said cylinders for automatically moving the plate clamps to lock the plates by the rotation of the cylinders, mid Illitiflb; connected with all the cylinders heir movable simultaneously to prevent the opcraiion of the clamps, and means for plat j all of m d means into eng: it with their respective plate clznnps. itileby on the next rotation of the seyerizl plate cylindci's. all the plates Will be nnclziniped.

21. In a printing press, the combination with n plurality of prii'iting couples. of nntonmiic plate 7 ENDS for the plates on the respcctiye printing: ryl izde-rs thcrcof, inc :11 the ends oi said cylinders [or nuloni (:2 withdrawing the plate clamps and 'i-: lcneing the plates by the rotation (it the cylinders, said means connected with each I lJtli inovzi ilc out of engagement m x o rwa'cnt the rcimfie i, file ti 3 p'esa is opeint and "tor rcplnting all of ams into engagement with their spcctix'c plate clinnps, whereby on the i; rotation of the scxcwil plate cylinders: ah the plates will be released automaticlly.

252. In 21 plnte chnnpingg ill-vice, the i lib-mm i with :1 printing plzsiz cyiindcr adapted to receive printing p ;it'- oi clamping ring at, the end of the i having a lica'cl flirt-(ice for cng reins t e of the plate. yield A means for holding the clumpingring in opcrnlivc poaition and l viii-l ly clznnpi'ng the end plate. and nicnn i connected with the clznnpinn ring for mitollidiiczllly witliilrzmiig the clumping; ring from clumping po;- lion in oppoxition to mid Hpll' N when the cylinder i-otzitms to c'-'t poiit.

n plate clmnpin device, the (Gill- ,l with a printing: plate cylinder to zccc ve on auri m'c :1 plurality p inting plates circnnrtci'cnliiilly of ring at the end of the cylinder l the plnttwa at the the cyiindcz', yielding means in: holding the clznnping rii'igs in opcrzitix'e and securely clamping the end i i "il'icreon a lever adjacent to the clamping rings, and means conivctcd with tho lever coo crziting with means on the clamping" rings for mitoniiiticiilly withdrawing the clznnping: trornclinnping position in op osition to mid oprines.

2 1. In a plate clamping device, the coin-- liination with 21 printing plate cylinder adapted to rccciyo printing plates of a clamping ring the end of the cylinder having); a bevel mrface for engaging the ends of the plates, yielding means for holding the clamping" ring in operative position and securely clznnping the end plates, and means adjacent the clamping ring cooperating with means connected with the clamproller lizivi gg slanting (to-operating holding, the roller positively in .11 wiih the (21513.

25 In :1 plate clnn'ipinn' deviciy the (winlii z; ion with pliitc cylindnr 1 Hlli'tzitft a plurality o'ij printing: plates (:1rcuintci'cntinlEyi two all the platen ill the (lito'i the cylinder, yi lilin ineiii h-c ldinp the clzunpii'ig in opera plates i I ll! \ihei'i-hy when the plates are amped the i lifl will lli hill out oi (li l fltl iilll with ri o prevent :icci- (icniii (ptlllt'ifll'l of the l'iiifli (hiring the ope ation of the press.

i with :1, printing 1 i i'iyliniler adapted to receive on in: dirt E101 a plurality oi. printing pinto end of the cylinil for e-ng nging the end of the plate Eli the 0nd of the cylinder, yielding llltli llrl t'o'i' ioldii the clznnping' ring" in operative :-;;t1on

1t and :-1ccniely clamping the end plate, a: lever adjacent to the clamping ring", nzccms connected with the lever cooperating with lllLllilF? on the clamping ringor sin-tin imitically \Yltl ullfiililgl the clamping ring i'oni clamping" pzmnon in oppowhion to said yielding means. and means or (incon- IN l'i lQf the lover from the clamping ring when the clznnping: riz'inj has been moved to clamping ponition.

27. In :1 plate clzin'ip n mice, the comprinting plzatc cvl nlcr binntion with :1 ii adapted to receive giiii' plates on its siirinco, :1 c znnpm ring at the end of the.

cylinder for cng'zig i 1;: the end of the plateit the end of the cylinder. springs-1 for hold-- ing' the clamping" ring in operative POlslllOll d securely clamping the end plate there- ;n. a lever adjacent to the clznnping ring. 11mins connects-Ll with the lever cooperating with means on the clamping ring for mitoniatically withdrawing' the clamping ring from clamping position in opposition to said springs v means whereby, when the plate is clamped, the lever will be held out of engagement with the ring: to prevent 2M- cidentzil operation of the ring during the ope'ation of the press, mezin for moving llt) to be located ii d 1 at a lixed point longitndnrill 1e cyl nder to engage the cam an the r 1'' s. 'l more th v p ate clamp by the rotation 0 he cylii t In a plate clamplnn z rel a rice, the ('onibiinition with a pz'ititii ,r pi cy inder, of a clan'ipingz device for holdi the end of a plrre an provided with a groove, saio cl along the c vlin 1x a rain roll adapted to be located in said groove to engage the cam the cylinde" rota l more the clamp by the rotation tllll)lll;)f device be ng: slidalh plate tlllt the cylir. I means nnzv hly connected with s; roller for withdrawing; it out of eroore ween the plate is locked and t cylinder is ristating.

30. In a printing; press, the combination with a pier: ity ot printin coliplea, cautomatic plate clamps tor the plate: on tl rer pecliye printing cylinders thereof, meal at the ends of said cylinders for anton at (ally moving the plate camps to-locl; the plates by the rotation of the cylinders, and means for placing all of id means into engagement with their espective plate whereby on the next rotation of the several plate cylinders, all the pin will be clamp d.

3 In a printing press, with a plurality of printing niatic plate clamps for the plates on. the respective printing cylindera thereof, means at the ends of said cylinder-ii to automatically clamping the plates by toe rotation of the cylinders, said means connected with each cylinder being movable out of engagement with the plate clamps to prevent the release of the plates while the press it; op rating normally.

32. The combination with a printing plate cylinder of a clamp thereon tor engaging: a printing); plate, and means independent of the printing: cylinder for cau ing said clamp to release the printing; plate the will oi the operator.

33. The combination vith a printing plate cylinder of a clamp thereon for engaging, a printing plate. and means independent of the printing cylinder for causing said clamp to engage the printing plate at the will of the operator.

34. The combination with a printing plate cylinder of a clamp thereon for engaging a clamps,

the combinati n couples, of autoprinting plate, and means independent of the printing cylinder for :ausine; said clamp to engage or releas the printing plate at the will of the operator.

35. The combination with a printing plate cy inder of a clamp thereon for engaging a printing plate, and means independent of :he )rintiny; cylinder for earning said clamp to ng5age or release the print; plate when print i'ig eylinder has come to rest.

as. The combination with a print I"; cylindrr of a clamp thereon for e printing plate, and means independent of the printing cyli der for causing said clamp to engage or release the printing plate at the will of the operator when the printing cylin der has come to rest.

37. The combination with a printing plate cylinder of a clamp thereon for engaging: a printing plate, and means independent of the printing; cylinder for actuating said clamp to release the printing plate when the cylinder comer: to rest, paid actuating means being arranged so as to be ?apable of actuation while the cylinder is still in motion.

38. The combination with a printing plate the printing" plate at the will of the opera or as the ."llll lt starts. into rotation.

39. The combination with a printing! plate linder or a clamp thereon for engaging a inting: plate. means independent of the printing cylinder for automatica y operating said clamp to lock or releaee the plate, and means for throwing the clamp operating: means into action. i

40. The combination with a printing); plate cylinder of a clamp thereon for e It a printing plate, and means carried independently of the cylinder tor causing said clamp to more into position to lock the plate on the cylinder.

41. The combination with a printing plate cylinder of a clamp thereon for engaging a printing plate, and means carried independently of the cylinder for causing said clamp to move into position to release the plate on the cylinder.

42. The combination with a printing plate cylinder of a clamp thereon for engaging a printing plate, means carried indepeinlentlv ot the cylinder for causing said clamp to move into posit ion to release the plate on the cylinder, and means carried independently ol the cylinder for 'ausing said clamp to more into or out of position to engage or release the plate at the will of the ope 'ator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atlixed my signature.

HENRY A. lVISE \VOOD. 

